About the Author

As a lifelong avid hiker, and past forestry volunteer, my blog is dedicated to sharing Northern California trails with photos, maps, driving directions, difficulty ratings, elevation changes, trail conditions, and related tips. At http://peachyhiker.blogspot.com/, read about everything from swimming in
glacier lakes alongside the melting snow to being stranded overnight in the wilderness. Find trails to hike and backpack in Northern California and related topics. For those unable to get to these places, my goal is to help you experience what I do vicariously. Occasionally other related topics are addressed.

I am here for culture, information, inspiration, wisdom, knowledge, encouragement, humor, and to share some of each with you too.

On Google+ find photos and subject matter I am committed to or sharing for qualities I appreciate.

An excellent handbook for athletes with information my podiatrist never discussed or considered as part of my treatment! Included are diagrams, photos, preventative measures, and treatments. Saving my feet is saving my backpacking!

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Ed Webster gives a detailed account of his bid to summit Mount Everest without all of the people and support most mountaineers' have the advantages of. They went without oxygen, without the usual host of sherpas to set up all of the camps ...

Yes, I know it sounds morbid to read a book of accounts of nearly 900 deaths in a forest over all its years in existence, but I learned so much and who knows, one of those lessons may save me either through awareness and knowledge, or throu...

A combination of journal style writing and subject overviews and information about the family's planning and trek on the PCT. Adventures, challenges, pitfalls and successes they experienced and information to help hopeful trekkers succeed ...

Great hikes in and around Georgetown, CA with driving and parking directions, difficulty ratings, features to look for, hand drawn maps, and distances from Georgetown for reference. Nice pocket book to carry along! On the flip side, I woul...

The frightening tale of a man left for dead and his miraculous survival is engaging, alarming, and sometimes I just couldn't put it down. The details of his life, all the way back into his childhood, got a little tedious for me. I found h...

Fall colors are vivid contrasts to the granite along the Twin Lakes Trail.

Difficulty: Moderate~Strenuous. It is uphill, rocky, and around 8 miles. Some skill is needed to look for and keep on the trail. Avoid following cairns. They are often down on your return trip and unreliable. You never know who placed them or why, or if their destination was the same as yours. Same idea if you set them up. They could very well be gone on your return trip. Use the terrain, lakes and creeks as guides to stay found, and GPS, map, and a compass if you can.

To the Trailhead: From the north side of the parking lot you'll see a closed metal gate. Go around it and follow the pavement a short distance until you see a sign for the Twin Lakes Trail and Grouse-Hemlock Trail that points to your right. Follow that and there is a big sign at the trailhead where you need to fill out a day permit, no fees, for entering Desolation Wilderness. The hike is pretty strenuous up to the fork toward Twin Lakes and Island Lake. It is rocky and has carved boulder stairs off and on. It winds through the trees alongside a creek, in and out of the sun. Once you head north again toward the lakes you'll spend a lot of time on the granite in the sun.

Notes: Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must. I suggest packing along a parka or hoodie in case of weather changes. It tends to be more windy up top too. Take plenty of water and snacks. Hiking poles are a fantastic help! To backpack, you'll need to contact a ranger station or go online to Desolation Wilderness website and get a permit there. There are minimal fees. Other regulations or restrictions can be found on that link also. Fishing there is very popular; be sure to have your license with you.

WILDFLOWERS IN JUNE: I am no expert but try to name them for the curious.

Along with wildflowers come moths and butterflies like this beauty, a Field Crescent Butterfly, and this one was camera friendly!

Buckwheat

Lily, the dog is playing in the water behind the Camas Lilies.

Crimson Columbine

Meadow Larkspur

Pink Indian Paintbrush

Monkey Flowers

Small Larkspur

Along the way the views behind you are startlingly clear and distant.

Lily found every pond and creek to play in!

We were looking up along the way to the uppermost lake, Island Lake.

We found the trail fairly easy to follow by looking for landmarks like these rock walls.

Other places were rocky but had a well groomed path leading into sections like this one of well placed rocks, obviously not built by nature, but unobtrusively leading the way. Desolation Volunteer and his dog hiking to Island Lake. Volunteers are out on the trails to help visitors, so feel free to approach them.

There were stunted trees along the mostly granite hike on Twin Lakes Trail that offered us some shady respites from the glaring sun. Wear sunglasses.

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The trail over large areas of flat granite slabs were lined with large stones that made it clear enough to follow without doubt.

This is one of several inviting brilliant pools along the way. They stood out vividly from the grey acres of granite.

Not so inviting, but very helpful stones placed in the path so hikers didn't have to slug through the muddy area.

Peachy Hiker (take by me) at Twin Lakes on the west side. My tripod was almost useless due to the winds up there, but the weather was perfect for this hike.

Boomerang Lake

And finally we reached Island Lake! The wind up there was pretty cold and swimming wasn't a big option. It can be though and backpackers have plenty of room to camp at this lake and others along the way.

This was the south side of Island Lake, still snowy in September!

Another lake along the way.

The last part of your return hike will take you back through the woods and shade, and yes, the dreaded carnivorous biting black beasts some kindly call mosquitoes. Repellent didn't seem to phase them!Nearing the end of a long day, sunset makes the trailhead picturesque. The parking and restroom will be to your left after you stroll through the cabin area.